Clutch mechanism.



N. L. JENNINGS.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1913.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 1.

Wii'nesses N. L. JENNINGS.

GLUTGH MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10, 1913.

Lmmw

4 w ,m ..n w 7; m 5 m ml M %a7f@ /ZQ.

NATHAN LOUIS JENNINGS, CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH M ECHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed May 16, 1913. Serial No. 766,738.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NATHAN Loms J EN- NINGS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago Heights, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clutch mechanism and more particularly to such devices as are used in motor vehicles.

The object of this improvement is to provide a device of the character mentioned, embodying a clutch and automatic means for engaging and disengaging said clutch, also for reengaging said clutch, when in disengaged condition by manually operable means.

Other objects ill appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a clutch mechanism, as applied to motor vehicles and embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same showing a slightly different construction, Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3'3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a driving clutch member 5, splined by meansears 9 in which are pivotally mounted weighted bell crank levers 10 having curved surfaces 11 adapted to engage the clutch member 5 to move the latter longitudinally on shaft 7. The bell crank levers 10 are provided with a tension spring 12 to automatically bring them toward each other. With this construction it will be observed that the driving clutch member 5 and bell crank levers 10 will be rotated with shaft 7 A driven shaft 13 is mounted for rotation in axial alinement with driving shaft 7 and a sleeve 14 splined thereon by means of a key 15 in a manner to be moved longitudi- .nally thereof. The sleeve 14 is provided engaged by rollers 17 of the crank arms 18. i

The crank arms 18 are secured to shaft 19. Shaft 19 carries a lever 20 by which the sleeve 14 is manually operated through its connecting mechanism. The lever 20 is provided with a spring actuated lock 21 adapted to engage a sector gear 22 to lock the lever 20 and sleeve 14 in different positions. On one end of the sleeve 14 is a circular head 23 adapted to prevent the driven clutch member 24 from passing off the end of sleeve 14. The clutch member 24 is maintained against the head 23 by means of a compression spring 25. The clutch member 24 is splined on the sleeve 14 by means of a key 26 to rotate therewith. The clutch member 24 is provided with a circular groove 27 on its hub portion and said groove is en.- gaged by rollers 28 of crank arms 29 to effect longitudinal movement of said .clutch member on said sleeve. The crank arms 29 are secured to a shaft 30 which also carries a pedal crank arm 31.by which the clutch member 24 is operated through their connecting mechanism. I I

In Fig. 2 a slightly different form of centrifugally operated mechanism is shown to cause movement .of the member 5. In this construction ears 9' are carried by shaft 7 and the clutch member 5 splined on shaft 7 as already described. The clutch member 5 carries cars 32 and the ears ,9 and 32 are connected by means of the toggle joints 33.

The ears 9' also carry weighted arms 34 which are pivotally connectedthereto. The middle joints of the toggle joints 33 are connected with the weighted arms 34 substantially as indicated and in a manner to cause the toggle joint to move from the full line to the dotted line position upon movement of the weighted arms 34 from their full line to their dotted line positions in Fig- 2. In this construction the movement of weighted arms 34 from their full line to their dotted line positions move the clutchmember 5 from its inoperative to its operative position, which positions are indicated by its full line and dotted line positions, respectively, in this figure.

From the construction set forth then, it

will be observed that members 17 to 22 inelusive. lock sleeve 14 at different positions on shaft 13, so that by adjusting said sleeve on said shaft the clutch members may be engaged at different rates of speed of the motor. Sleeve 14 is indicated in its normal position in Figs. 1 and 2 in full lines and at a position extending over shaft -7 in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To permit of this movement the end of sleeve 14 is provided With an annular recess 27' to allow said sleeve to pass over key 6 in shaft 7. The last mentioned position of sleeve 14- permits the clutch member to engage utility of w In Fig; 1, however,- the full line position ofclutch member 'Mindicates its position taken when disengaged from clutch member 5 by means of foot pedal 21.

In operation, lever 20 is set permitting sleeve 14: to hold clutchmember 24 in its fuu line osition in Fig. 2 and the 'motor started. j s soon as the motor attains a certain speed the centrifugall'y operable means automatically moves clutch member 5 to en-' gagement 'withclutch member 24 and main-i tains it'there' until the speed is reduced as already explained. Should the speed be re-' duced from any cause sufiiciently to cause the disengagement ofthe clutch members when such disengagement is not desired, as for instance 'when a large amount of power is used such, as in climbing hills, lever 20 may be shifted to move sleeve 14 over the end of shaft 7 ermitting clutch member 24:

. derstood.

to follow clutc member 5 and again cause engagement of the clutch members'at a'reduced rate of speed as will be readily un- While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variationand modification withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clutch mechanism comprising a driving shaft; a drivin clutch member slidably mounted on said driving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve mounted on said driven shaft and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon; a drlven clutch member mounted on said sleeveand adapted to move longitudinalliy thereon; and means adapted to indepen ently move sald sleeve and said driven clutch ,member, substantially as described.

' A clutch mechanism comprisinga drivshaft; a driving clutch member slida y mounted on said driving shaft; a driven shaft; a sleeve mounted .on said i driven shaft and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon; a driven clutch member mounted on said sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally thereon; a member resiliently I maintaining said driven clutch atone end of said sleeve; and means adapted to lock said sleeve in different," positions on said driven shaft,- substantially as. described.

a 3; A clutch mechanism comprising a driving'. shaft; 'a clutch member slidably mounted on said shaft; adriven shaft; a sleeve spl1ned on said-driven shaft and having an annular headat one end thereof; a clutch member s'plined on said sleeve and adapted to cotiperate with said first mentioned clutch member; a spring on said sleeve resiliently mamtaming said second mentloned clutch member against said annular head; andhand operable means adapted to move said I sleeve on said driven shaft to permit the cooperation of said clutch members, substantially as described.

4 A clutch mechanism comprising a driving shaft; a clutch member slidably mounted on said shaft: a driven shaft; .a sleevesplined on said driven shaft and having an annular head at one end thereof; a clutch member splined onosaid sleeve and adapted to coiiperate with said first mentioned clutch member; a spring on said sleeve resiliently maintaining said second mentioned clutch member a ainst said annular head; and two manually operable levers, one connected with said sleeve and the other connected with said driven clutch and constituting means for engaging and disengaging said clutch members when the clutch member on said driving shaft is in different positions on the latter, substantially as described;

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHAN LOUIS JENNINGS. 

